CURRENT MISSION

Stay grounded in what is real.

ABOUT ME

Sometimes I wish I had studied finance, but then I remember that I have a deep complex around money and that what I really want is to live an honest life.

PHILOSOPHY

Cast off, set sail.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Most of my initial experiences were hosting while I lived in Seoul in 2015. I am still in regular contact with my first surfers. After crossing much of Eurasia only couchsurfing, this community was cemented as a major part of my life. I even met my wife through a former surfer!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I can thank Couchsurfing for introducing me to all of my closest friends. The people I've met have helped me see the world in a completely different way, and I'm much better for it.

Interests

I am a very active person. I make time every day to get outside or spend some time in the gym.

I try to be mindful of the carbon footprint of my actions, but merely limiting one's impact is no way to live.

• writing
• photography
• coffee
• fitness
• yoga
• running
• chess
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• rock climbing
• swimming
• philosophy
• science
• mountains
• travel
• nature
• life
• trekking
• outdoors
• outdoor
• psychedelics
• weightlifting
• outdoor sports
• nature walks
• trekking and camping
• outdoor adventures
• philosophical conversations
• philosophy of mind
• hiking in the mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I watch very few movies, but I’ve learned to enjoy the work of masters of cinema like Quentin Tarantino, Denis Villeneuve, and Terrence Malick.

I enjoy a narrow band of eclectic and mainstream rock, indie, and electronica. Polyphia, Animals As Leaders, Emancipator, Ott, Tycho, Underoath, He Is Legend, The Dave Matthews Band, Bon Iver...

I get great satisfaction out of well-written nonfiction, especially books that explore ideas that I can really chew on. Some of the most influential have been The Righteous Mind and The Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haidt, Maps of Meaning by Jordan Peterson, and Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari.

I also love to get lost in good fiction or adventure stories. Some of my favorites are A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, och En man som heter Ove av Fredrik Backman.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Embarked on the greatest quest of all: the process of becoming who I am.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you what I know about engineering, renewable energy, and what I've experimented with in health and fitness. I do love the process of teaching, but I have more to learn than to teach. If you want to know something, just ask. :)

If you're learning English, I taught the language for a while. I've played guitar for about half my life, so I could probably share a bit.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I don't have any cultural specialties, but I can generally prepare a pretty good meal. Most of all, I can share deep discussion and a listening ear. I love to hear the stories of other travelers. Perhaps I will even help you tell your story on my blog: Cast Off, Set Sail (http://castoffsetsail.wordpress.com).

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Scotland, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belgium, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, United States